robinsonfamily33 Posted June 23, 2009 Report Posted June 23, 2009 Hello,I have a trip booked to fly into Burlington, VT on 7/15/09, departing 7/20/09 and need advice for bidding on priceline. We are flexible on where to stay in the area, we will rent a car so can travel a bit out of the center. We would prefer a 3* or 4* and our desired budget would be under $80/night. I looked on Orbitz and all the hotels seem to be $115 - 120 or more. Do you think it is possible to get a lower rate on these dates? I don't see many posts for July for the Burlington area. Can you recommend a bidding strategy?I looked at the priceline website this morning and it looks like they have 4 areas fairly close to Burlington that I can bid in, and I would be willing to stay in any of them. The areas I'm willing to bid on as defined on the priceline website are: zone 1 - Burlington; zone 2 - Colchester; zone 3 - Essex Junction; zone 6 - Williston Also, I just looked at this website at the hotels listed that have been won on priceline, and the "Inn at Essex" would be great if I could get that, it looks very nice. If not that, then I would probably want to get one of the hotels in zone 1 Burlington, first choice being the 3* but if those don't work I would consider one of the 2.5* options.Thank you for your help!
AaronJB Posted June 23, 2009 Report Posted June 23, 2009 Good afternoon.What would be more important in terms of bidding - a 4* or are you looking for the cheapest property between 2.5-4*?If you are a party of more than 2, you may want to consider looking on HOTWIRE instead, as PRICELINE doesn't guarantee 2 beds.HOTWIRE is showing a 3* in Burlington w/restaurant, pool, fitness, business, golf for $76 on these dates - that would appear to be a match for the Sheraton.Given this, you could attempt to bid on PRICELINE (if you don't mind the possibility of 1 bed) $60 for a 3* in the Burlington - Stowe (Burlington - Williston) in an attempt to get the Sheraton for less.Let us know your thoughts on the above.Please use the site's PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links.
robinsonfamily33 Posted June 24, 2009 Author Report Posted June 24, 2009 Hi,I think our preference is to go for the cheapest property, but I've decided to try to stay with the 3* and above (instead of 2.5). I looked at the website for the Sheraton and I think that would be my top choice, if you can give me a bidding strategy to try to get that one on priceline. If I can't get it on priceline I'll try hotwire afterward, but I looked at hotwire today and it is showing me rates of $89 for those dates now (I suppose they can fluctuate from day to day).I will use your links for my bidding. Thank you!
thereuare Posted June 25, 2009 Report Posted June 25, 2009 You can't target a specific property on PRICELINE, if you'd like to try to target a specific property then HOTWIRE might be a better options.Did you want to go the HOTWIRE route or would you like a strategy for any 3* (or higher) hotel in the Burlington, VT zone?Thanks for using our PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links for your purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
robinsonfamily33 Posted June 25, 2009 Author Report Posted June 25, 2009 I would like a strategy for any 3* or higher hotel in the Burlington, VT zone, and if you can, please recommend what you think is the lowest realistic bid. I did say our max is 80/night, but I'd like it lower if you think it might be accepted. Thanks.
thereuare Posted June 25, 2009 Report Posted June 25, 2009 At the 3* level you have TWO re-bid zones. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.(NOTE: 're-bid zone1' is not the same as priceline's Zone1, 're-bid zone2' is not the same as priceline's Zone2, etc, etc)With time on your side i would begin as follows:Select 3* Burlington...Bid $40, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $45, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* Burlington and re-bid zone2...Bid $50, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $55Any questions feel free to ask.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.Good luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
robinsonfamily33 Posted June 25, 2009 Author Report Posted June 25, 2009 I used this strategy unsuccessfully today, so I'll wait and try again tomorrow with a higher bid ($60-65). I have to wait 24 hours, correct? Also, I think there might be 3 rebid zones now, it looks like Priceline has restructured their zones for Burlington, and there is one for "Montpelier" that has only 2* and 1* hotels available, so it seems that I could use that for rebidding when I'm trying for a 3* hotel.
thereuare Posted June 25, 2009 Report Posted June 25, 2009 There are only TWO re-bid zones when bidding 3* in this zone... besides (Montpelier - Barre), what is the other zone you're using?Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
robinsonfamily33 Posted June 26, 2009 Author Report Posted June 26, 2009 I am using Burlington, then Colchester and Montpelier.so maybe that is what you meant by two rebid zones if you don't include the first zone that I actually want to win in.
thereuare Posted June 26, 2009 Report Posted June 26, 2009 Yes, you have the re-bid zones correct :) (but dont' forget to check just before bidding again to make sure nothing has changed)24 hours after your last rejected bid (NOTE: not 24 hours since you started the previous bidding cycle, it needs to be after your last rejected bid) i'd re-try as follows:Select 3* Burlington...Bid $60, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $65, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* Burlington and re-bid zone2...Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $75Any questions feel free to ask.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.Good luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
robinsonfamily33 Posted June 26, 2009 Author Report Posted June 26, 2009 Hi, I tried again today and was still unsuccessful up to $75. I might try $80-85 tomorrow, and if that doesn't work then I may book the Hotwire room at a 3* which is currently listed at $89. You mentioned that it looked like it may be the Sheraton - how likely do you think it is the Sheraton versus the Holiday Inn, which i see is also a 3* in Burlington on the Hotwire hotel list? (I know there are no guarantees, I'm just curious).
thereuare Posted June 26, 2009 Report Posted June 26, 2009 If the amenities are still as posted above, then they match previous reports for the Sheraton, and not the Holiday Inn, which would make the Sheraton the more likely guess.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.Good luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
robinsonfamily33 Posted June 27, 2009 Author Report Posted June 27, 2009 I bid PRICELINE up to $85 unsuccessfully, so I booked on HOTWIRE for $89/night and it was the Sheraton Burlington. Thank you for all your help!
AaronJB Posted June 27, 2009 Report Posted June 27, 2009 Congratulations on your success!Thank you for sharing your results with the board, and glad the site could be of help! :)Using the site's HOTWIRE link to start your purchase is greatly appreciated.Enjoy your stay.
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